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Only in Louisiana luncheon gives Los Angeles an La. vibe

Herman Fuselier
Published 9:52 p.m. CT Feb. 7, 2015

The Magnolia Sisters perform live with help from fiddle-playing, record producer Joel Savoy during the Only in Louisiana luncheon at the Conga Room on the eve of the Grammy Awards.(Photo: Micah Slay, special to the Advertiser)

LOS ANGELES – The nation’s second-largest city looked, sounded and tasted more like Lafayette, Breaux Bridge or New Orleans Saturday afternoon.

An entourage of Grammy nominees, chefs and tourism officials from Louisiana showed off the state’s culture at the Only in Louisiana luncheon at the Conga Room, a club and restaurant next to the Staples Center.

For the ninth-straight year, the luncheon showcased the state’s homegrown music and food on the eve of the Grammy Awards, which will be held Sunday. Nominees in nine Grammy categories have connections to Louisiana, along with blues legend Buddy Guy, the state’s second-straight Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Aaron Neville’s song “Tell It Like It Is,” will be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Bonsoir Catin and the Magnolia Sisters, two mostly female Cajun bands based in Lafayette and St. Martin parishes, performed live, with help from fellow Grammy nominee Jo-El Sonnier and fiddle-playing record producer Joel Savoy of Eunice. R&B singer Ledisia, a New Orleans native, serenaded a full house with an acoustic set of blues and jazz with two guitarists.

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, host of the event, said the luncheon is more than passing a good time with music and food.

“This is a fabulous event,” said Dardenne. “The goodwill that we engender with folks in the motion picture industry, the music industry and the media, throughout California and really around the world, is great. So many people from the Recording Academy are here. The trustees attend.

“It’s a great way to showcase Louisiana talent and Louisiana food. This one has been the most successful of anyone we’ve done.

“The turnout was huge. To have four of the nominees present, plus Buddy Guy and to be able to recognize him, just made it very special this year.”

The event was also special for Dona Degutar Richard, director of the St. Martin Parish Tourist Commission, and Kelly Strenge of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission. Both have Grammy nominees from their area, which includes Breaux Bridge native and county sensation Hunter Hayes.

Hayes is also hosting the Grammy’s Premiere Ceremony, where 70 winners in 83 categories will be announced Sunday afternoon.

“We have a lot of talented musicians in the Cajun country area,” said Strenge. “If anybody’s going to be nominated for roots music, a lot of them should come from there.”

“Look at the quality of women that actually live in my parish, with Hunter as well,” said Richard. “I was thinking as the performances were going on, just the magnitude of wonderful women that have been nominated this year.

Johnny Palazzotto of Baton Rouge, a co-producer of the luncheon, has been pleased to see the event grow every year. Palazzotto and Sherri McConnell of Louisiana Economic Development, along with Lafayette cultural activists Todd Mouton, Cynthia Simien and Lisa Stafford, first organized the event during a Louisiana State Music Commission meeting.

“We were doing a daytime and a nighttime event, but it got to be very expensive,” said Palazzotto. “The venues saw the State of Louisiana was involved and jacked the prices up on us.

“But it has become one of the go-to events for Grammy Week, which we’re really proud of. Obviously, Cajun, and zydeco, and now the Regional Roots category, are very important to the state of Louisiana and our artists. The Recording Academy is sticking with us.

“This year, I’m thrilled with the female acts we have, with Bonsoir, Catin and the Magnolia Sisters, and Jo-El Sonnier. It makes me proud to be a part of it and see these people get recognition.”